England rest key men for one-day series

Following Ashes success, England are giving five of their leading men a break ahead of Australian tour in eight weeks.

27 Aug 2013 13:27 GMT

Cook (L) and Anderson will focus on ensuring England retain the Ashes in Australia [GALLO/GETTY]

England have rested Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann for the five-match one-day international series against Australia next month.

Eoin Morgan will captain the side in Cook's absence, while pace bowlers Chris Jordan and Jamie Overton are included in an England squad for the first time.

Michael Carberry, Gary Ballance and Boyd Rankin, who are yet to make their ODI debuts for England, have also been selected.

"Following a very intense period of cricket this summer we have decided to rest a number of senior players which will allow them to recover from a heavy workload over the last three months and to prepare for the tour of Australia which begins in eight weeks," national selector Geoff Miller said in a statement.

England have named a separate squad for a one-off match against Ireland on September 3, for which Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott will also be rested before returning for the Australia matches.